Our favorite walk to Coast Guard Beach

Walking through Paradise on the way to Coast Guard Beach in Eastham!

 This is one of our favorite walks because it always changes with the season and it directly connects to our favorite beach, Coast Guard.  Notice the goldenrod in the foreground and the pale golden hue in the marsh....just magnificent!  Of course, Fort Hill is our favorite walk, with vistas out to the sandy beach and Atlantic ocean, wildflower meadows, and forest, but for a beach walk we always choose to walk to Coast Guard Beach in the National Seashore.  

Here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast we still have vacancy in our ocean view Nantucket Cottage, as a guest house accommodation (self-catering),  for Oysterfest weekend, October 16-20.  Send us an e-mail if you are interested in staying in this fully heated, luxury cottage with gas fireplace.  

Best Lobster Shack on Cape Cod

Looking for some of the best Lobster in New England?  Right here in Eastham, just a couple of minutes from the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, you will find one of Yankee Magazine's Top Picks for the Best New England Lobster Shacks.  Yum...butter dripping down your chin and maybe even a round of miniature golf and and ice cream cone to cap off the summer season!

Breakfast Delight...Panna Cotta at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast!

It's a busy time here at Fort Hill...the summer has been glorious and the beaches at their best! This morning we had home-made vanilla bean panna cotta and fresh fruit topped in a berry compote as a first course. it was a big hit! Here is a before and after picture as well as an easy recipe I picked up while we were in Italy last fall. I double the recipe for the B+B gang.

Fort Hill Panna Cotta

Serves 4-5

1/2 cup half-and-half
1 envelope unflavored powdered gelatin
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup plus 2 Tb. Sugar
2” piece vanilla bean, split
grated zest of 1 lemon or 1 small orange, optional

Butter five 1/2-cup ramekins.
Pour gelatin on half-and-half. Stir to dissolve.
In medium-heavy saucepan, mix cream, sugar, vanilla bean and gelatin mixture.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until the mixture begins to boil. (Don’t boil over pan!)
Cook until the mixture begins to thicken slightly, then remove the pan from heat and discard the bean.
Stir in lemon zest if desired.
Pour into ramekins, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set (5 hours) or overnight.

To un-mold: run a knife around the sides of the ramekin. Place a serving plate on top and invert the mold on the plate. Or dip each mold quickly in hot water and then invert.
Serve with fresh fruit, shaved chocolate or make a caramel sauce.

Best use for Garlic Scapes!

It's garlic scapes time! Here's one of our favorite recipes...among several that use garlic scapes.  Don't you just love the way these tender green shoots look in a harvest basket?  They taste even better than they look and are prized for their delicate garlic flavor.  We grow our own organic garlic and harvest their tender green shoots in June.  

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast's  
Cannellini Bean and Garlic Scapes Dip

Ingredients:
15 ounces cannellini beans, canned, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup garlic scapes, chopped
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano Cheese
1/2 cup very good extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon joice
1/4 teaspoon seas salt (or to taste, depending on beans and cheese)
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:
1. Add beans to bowl of food processor and pulse 3 or 4 times. Add the garlic scapes and olive oil. Process for 30 seconds.
2. Add the lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper and process until the dip is thick and creamy and the garlic scapes have been incorporated into the beans. If the dip is dry add a bit more oil. Serve with whole grain crackers or sliced baguette.

CNN: 20 Best Places to Visit in USA.....Cape Cod is #12

Wow! CNN thinks Cape Cod is #12 on the 20 Best Places to Visit travel guide. The picture in the article is of the Eastham Coast Guard Station on Coast Guard Beach. Yup...that's the beach we look at here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast and the one pictured below, taken by Gordon.

We have vacancy in the ocean view cottage from June 29-July 5 with a 5-night minimum. Come on Down!!  Full Breakfast, great beaches, lots to do...what's stopping you?

Coast Guard Beach in Eastham

June is busting' out all over!!

It's June...our perennial gardens are popping! The crowds have not arrived yet, but summer will be in full swing soon. If you have not made your reservations to visit #CapeCod and Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast this summer you should start to pick your dates. We still have vacancy in July but you can bet that our vacancies won't last long! 

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, inside the Cape Cod National Seashore

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, Overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, Eastham, Cape Cod, MA

Coast Guard Beach, National Seashore, Eastham, MA

Our guests never get tired of visiting this world class beach.  Coast Guard Beach in Eastham is regularly listed as one of the top 10 beaches in the USA, so it's no wonder that so many people want to stay on the outer cape, close to the sea!  One of the big advantages of staying at Fort Hill B+B is the easy access to 2 National Seashore Beaches, Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Lighthouse Beach.  There is a small fee for parking at these beaches but did you know that if one of your party is over 62 that they qualify for the Golden Pass?  Yup, stop at the Salt Pond Visitor's Center in Eastham to purchase a $10 lifetime pass that will allow the driver and passengers to enter and park free for life.  The pass is good for all National Parks.

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast's favorite beach:  Coast Guard Beach, Eastham

Oysters and Lupins!

Love Oysters? This is the weekend to be here on the outer cape enjoying Wellfleet Restaurant Week....it starts today!

And Fort Hill is in bloom.  Get a load of the lupins in bloom with Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Marsh in the background.  It's right out the door...come join us!

We have a 2-night min vacancy in the Lucille suite here at the FortHill Bed and Breakfast...just 10 minutes from some great restaurants in Wellfleet and in the middle of the best views on Cape Cod! Give us a call or drop us an e-mail. 

View over Fort Hill to Nauset Marsh, Coast Guard Beach and the Atlantic

Plein air artist...Serendipity at Fort Hill!

Several years ago Gordon, also known as Dear Husband, captured this artist painting one of our favorite views from Fort Hill.  

So it was quiet a surprise to greet our guests this weekend...one of whom looked vaguely familiar.  No...it couldn't be...could it!   Plein air artist  Arni Casavant of Mystic River Gallery apparently often paints and teaches on the outer Cape so it was a very pleasant surprise to have him as our B+B guest. He is currently showing his work locally at one of the popular galleries in Orleans, Gallery 31. 

If you love art, love to paint, take pictures, sketch or just look at art then the outer Cape is a great place to explore.  And we know just the place for you to stay! Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast-Overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic

Cape Cod National Seashore at Fort Hill B&B

Cape Cod is beautiful in the Spring and Fort Hill is the the place to be!  Come join us here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast to walk the National Seashore beaches and trails, to bike the Rail Trail or just to sit a spell under the cherry tree.  Check out our web site and availability/rates at www.forthillbedandbreakfast.com

Fort Hill is in Bloom!

Have you ever seen a yellow Magnolia?  We know that spring has arrived here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast when "Butterfly" is showing her colors!  Time to get those windows washed and mow the lawn....Spring has arrived!  We have vacancy for most dates in 2014 but the phone is beginning to ring so be sure to make your reservation soon if you want the best choice of accommodation. The Nantucket Cottage gets the ocean view AND a view of the Magnolia!

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast-Overlooking the Atlantic

info@forthillbedandbreakfast.com

Mother's Day Escape

Give her a couple of nights away from the work of every-day life!  Kick back, relax and renew.   We have a 2-3-night vacancy in the Lucille Suite this weekend.  Full Breakfast, quiet adult-only, luxury accommodations in a knock-out seaside location in the Cape Cod National Seashore Fort Hill Area of Eastham.  We are known for our warm hospitality and for the privacy of our historic accommodations.
You won't be sorry.....she'll love it!    :-)

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic

Spring.....the Cape is coming alive again...finally.  We have vacancy in the main house this weekend with reduced spring rates in effect.  Come join us and recharge.  You know where we are!!!

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast
Overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic in the Historic Fort Hill Area
75 Fort Hill Road
Eastham, MA 02642
508-240-2870
www.forthillbedandbreakfast.comwww.forthillbedandbreakfast.com

Cape Cod National Seashore from Fort Hill, Eastham

The National Park Service has worked hard over the years to preserve the Fort Hill Rural Historic Area much as it was in the late 1800's. Here is a recent late winter shot Gordon took of the Nauset Marsh at the base of Fort Hill with the dunes on the back side of Coast Guard Beach in the distance. This kind of view is just outside the door of the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast.

We are taking reservations for 2014.....How about joining us for some warm hospitality and a chance to experience  REAL Cape Cod!

Vernal Equinox Sunrise from the Cape Cod National Seashore

To celebrate the first full day of spring we took an early morning walk to catch first light. It was SO worth it!

Sunrise over Nauset Marsh looking east from Eastham to Coast Guard Beach from Hemenway landing in the Fort Hill Area, a short walk from the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast.

Today is one of 2 days in the year that the sun rises due EAST...and when you are in Eastham on the eastern most edge of MA, that means the sunrises with all of America at your back!   From now until the solstice in June it starts it's journey NE along the horizon. 

Fort Hill Area...The jewel in the crown of the Cape Cod National Seashore!

Here is another of my favorite shots of the Fort Hill Area, Eastham, MA! This one was an early summer shot... green meadows, forests and marsh. You can clearly see the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast across from the Captain Penniman House, as well as most of the Fort Hill Area of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The Red Maple Swamp trail runs along the lower left-center of this picture, obscured by the thick tree cover. The Fort Hill Area offers scenic views, walking trail, and historic tour as well as luxury lodging for adults who love a quiet, natural setting.

Please feel free to share this awesome bird's eye view. 
Visit our web site for availability and more photos.

Fort Hill Area of Cape Cod National Seashore
Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast (Sylvanus Knowles House)
Captain Edward Penniman House (red roof)

Bird's Eye View of Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast in the Cape Cod National Seashore.

From time to time, some of our guests do a fly-by of Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast and they kindly send us the pictures they take! Here's a bird's eye view of the Fort Hill Area in the Cape Cod National Seashore, including the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, (marked with red arrow across from the Captain Penniman House, with red roof and whale bone arch), and Nauset Marsh.  What a special place!! 

If you are really interested in the history, culture and environment of the area take a look at this Olmsted Center Report of the Fort Hill Rural Historic District.    We are one of 3 National Historic Properties in the Fort Hill Area, Sylvanus Knowles House (that's us!), Seth Knowles House, and the Captain Edward Penniman House. 

Come Join us here at Fort Hill.  It's time to contact us for a reservation in 2014!

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast

Overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic in the Historic Fort Hill Area

75 Fort Hill Road

Eastham, MA 02642

508-240-2870

info@forthillbedandbreafast.cominfo@forthillbedandbreakfast.com

One way to celebrate the Vernal Equinox

Winter got you down?  Looking for something new and different to do next Saturday night?  Why not take a break, book the ocean-view Nantucket Cottage at the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast and catch some great music just up the road a piece at the First Encounter Coffee House.  The outer cape is alive and well....you just have to know where to look!

Location, Location, Location!

Walk out the door of your private suite or cottage to some of the most breathtaking views on the outer  Cape.  Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast is the ONLY lodging located inside the Cape Cod National  Seashore's Fort Hill Area.

Nauset Marsh with Nauset Beach/Coast Guard Beach in the distance. Fort Hill is ocean-front with a full-moon-high tide filling the marsh and covering the grass. Soon the marsh will turn green and the fields will be filled with wild flowers.  The walking trails in the Fort Hill Area are among the most popular in the park.  Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast is a National Historic property that sits directly across from the historic Captain  Penniman House whale bone arch.

We feel so privileged to be located in the Fort Hill Area of the National Seashore and to be able to share this special place with our guests at the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast.  Isn't it time to think about making your reservation for a stay?  We are located 5 minutes from Orleans and 10 minutes from Wellfleet.

Oh Yum! Blueberry Cake at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast

Some of the pleasures of staying at a B+B are waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and good things baking in the oven, and the sound of a crackling fire in the fireplace.  Isn't it time for you to stay at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast-overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic in Cape Cod National Seashore?

                                Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast Blueberry Cake


Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar (3/4 if you like it sweet)

1 cup sour cream or( 1/2 sour cream and 1/2 plain greek yogurt)

2 eggs 

2 tsps. baking powder

1/2 cup oil

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups blueberries

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour 9" tube pan

Beat eggs with sour cream, add oil and vanilla, than add dry ingredients.  Dust blueberries with a little flour to keep them from sinking in batter. Fold berries into batter. (Batter will be thick.)  Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Fort Hill B+B Breakfast....Cheesy Chive Egg Soufflé

One of our signature breakfast dishes for a savory entree here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast is an individual egg soufflé. There are endless variations, with dill instead of chives, cream cheese instead of Mascarpone cheese, smoked Gouda instead of cheddar and the addition of seafood or meat. Here is a picture of one variation contributed by our dear friend Conrad ...this one with lobster. I am including the basic recipe in case you want to make a special breakfast. It's really very easy so give it a try! Our guests LOVE it!

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast Cheesy Chive Eggs

Per person
Preheat oven to 350 Bake 30 minutes

Butter one ramekin, add in order:
2 Tbs. Fresh, chopped chives (Dill is nice as well)
1 ounce Marscapone or other soft cheese (In chunks)
2 medium eggs, salt, pepper slightly beaten
1 Tbs. Half+Half
2 Tbs. Grated cheddar cheese

(The eggs and cheese should not overflow the ramekin but I fill it almost to the top. The # of eggs you use depends on the size of your dish and the size of your eggs. )

Place ramekin in baking dish with hot water about half way up the side of the ramekin. Bake 30 minutes. Serve immediately or it will collapse.

It was a relatively mild February weekend and allowed us to get out on to Coast Guard Beach for a lovely winter walk. The beach is ever-changing so we never get bored walking the spit! It was low tide, sunny, 50 degrees with only a slight breeze...a rarity for sure on a February day at the Cape Cod National Seashore.  Some clever devil has collected all the flotsam and jetsam from the beach and crafted a make-shift lean-to.  I suppose it might be in the approximate location that was once Henry Beston's Fo'Castle shack on the outer beach that was washed away in the Blizzard of '78.  The beach is still changing...with every storm.  Aren't we lucky to be so close?

There is always something new to see when you come to Cape Cod!